Stroller for Easter

[rodes]

The stroller is perhaps my favorite article of dress. It is stylish without a hint of flamboyance, always worldly and sharp. It seems to me that there is no better time than Easter to employ it. To my fellow London Loungers who have one, my advice is to wear and enjoy it. To those who do not,order one as soon as you are able and get ready for the appreciative comments from young and old, male and female. Every time I wear mine,too few occasions for sure,I always seem to recieve a complement from someone whose opinion I respect.

[hectorm]

It is a daring proposition indeed.
Our wedding was a formal affair with those in the groom's party dressed in morning tails and the rest of the attending men in an array of business suits. But the best dressed man of all was an old gentleman (a former boss of mine) who showed up in his bespoke stroller made in London in the 1950's when he was in the diplomatic corps.
I had not seen a man wearing one before (not counting films or photographs) and I have not seen one since then.
I am sure that you look very sharp in it, Rodes. Do you wear striped or checked trousers? Do you wear it with one of those rich fabric vests?
As for me I do not think I will be ordering one soon. It might not be a totally flamboyant piece of clothing but still......well I don't think I would be wearing it much.

[Simon A]

I have one and wear it quite often. Unfortunately, the striped pants + stroller ensemble seems wedged in many people's minds as what the concierge in a 5-star hotel wears (as indeed they do). So I have experimented with POW check trousers and that does not elicit the same reaction, while still being correct.

[rodes]

IMO, the striped trousers and odd vest date the look considerably. For this reason mine is double breasted,6x2,no vest needed, and I wear it with checked POW trousers. Matching trousers make the investment twice as versatile as you can always employ the coat as part of a serious lounge suit, especially if the two are dark gray,as opposed to black. Thankyou for posting as this is a wardrobe item that I would really like to see return.

[hectorm]

Unfortunately, the striped pants + stroller ensemble seems wedged in many people's minds as what the concierge in a 5-star hotel wears (as indeed they do).

Good point. And its a shame because although I believe a gentleman looks really sharp wearing a stroller, the ensemble still reminds me of Captain Stephen Peacock roaming the floor of the Grace Brothers department store in Are you being served?

[Man at C&A]

Good point. And its a shame because although I believe a gentleman looks really sharp wearing a stroller, the ensemble still reminds me of Captain Stephen Peacock roaming the floor of the Grace Brothers department store in Are you being served?

By a quirk of fate I spotted a stroller this morning, in Gracechurch Street. Not a nice one - it didn't fit the wearer that well and it was obviously made from a poly-wool mix. He had topped it off with a bowler.

"Doubtless off to The Lodge" was the thought that crossed my mind. My (less sartorially inclined) colleague, with whom I was walking, exclaimed “**** me! It’s Mr Ben!)

Laugh? I nearly dropped my slipcase

[hectorm]

"Doubtless off to The Lodge" was the thought that crossed my mind. My (less sartorially inclined) colleague, with whom I was walking, exclaimed “**** me! It’s Mr Ben!)

Man at C&A,
I'm afraid you lost me with the "off to The Lodge" reference.
And...did you mean Mr. Benn the cartoon? I can see why you had a good laugh.

[Man at C&A]

"off to the Lodge"? In a word... the masons. I think the only group in the mainland UK who still wear strollers on a regular basis.

When I first started working in the City of London, in 1983, it was not uncommon to see elderly gentlemen wearing strollers but they were the exception rather than the rule. Everyone else wore a suit of course.

These days I'm afraid a stroller is getting dangerously close to fancy-dress, and whilst we've thankfully rolled back from the chino-and-polo-shirt thing of the recent past, I've noticed that even suit wearing is on the decline. Some of the gents at our place, particularly those in the IT Department, seem dressed for the disco rather than the office. Thank goodness Lloyds of London retain a dress code.

[hectorm]

Thanks Man at C & A.
Regarding dress code I'm afraid you are right. In my last visit (summer) to the City everybody under 40 seemed to be wearing the same black trousers and dark blue shirt outfit. Someone said it was the Square Mile new uniform. We were invited for lunch to a nice brasserie in Leadenhall Market and I was the only man wearing a jacket.
I understand that Lloyd's not only has a strict dress code for employees but also for visitors.

[rodes]

Actually, I wore mine to our morning church service. This being the most important day in all Christendom, or better said, all the world, seemed like a good call.
A Happy Christmas to all.

[cathach]

agus athbhliain faoi mhaise/a new year under bloom to you too.

Essentially the stroller is no different to a DB jacket, if I'm correct? Its a DB worn with odd trousers and may or not be part of a lounge suit?

[Simon A]

It can be SB with a vest, or DB. Ventless, welted pockets and no pocket flaps (or flaps tucked into the pockets). Black or dark grey. Worn with striped or checked trousers.

[hectorm]

May I add that if it is a SB it should have peaked lapels?
I always think of a stroller as a morning coat without the tails.

[Simon A]

If SB, it does not need peaked lapels.




But if you really want them, go ahead....

[hectorm]

Thank you Simon. Those are all fine examples.
I add one more because I particularly like the look of the checked trousers instead of the striped ones.

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/2590 ... shijo5.jpg